Police appeal after ‘racially aggravated’ instance of criminal damage

A family man was verbally abused before having his car kicked in a “racially aggravated” incident of criminal damage.

Police in Batley are appealing for witnesses following the incident at around 10.15pm last Sunday (August 30).

A 46-year-old man and his family returned to his parked black BMW saloon in Commercial Street, Batley.

Three unknown males approached the vehicle. One of them shouted verbal abuse at the victim, and is believed to have kicked the vehicle, causing damage to it.

They fled towards the town centre in the direction of the town hall.

The incident is being treated as racially aggravated.

PC Chris Birkenshaw, of Batley and Spen Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “There were a lot of people around on Sunday evening using the many eateries on Commercial Street and I am appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward to the police.”